Centrifugal fractionating apparatus



Dec. 29, 1931. J. B. HEID v CENTRIFUGAL FRACTIbNATING APPARATUS Filed May 31. 1928 Ina 67210 2:

1 advantages will be more apparent from the Patented Dec. 29, 1931 UNITED STATES A ENT OFFICE JACOB BENJAMIN HFlID, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR T0 UNIVERSAL OIL PROD- UCTS COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A GOR1?QRATIONv OF SOUTH DAKOTA CENTRIFUGAL rnAcrronArme 'Arrana'rus.

Application filed May 31, 1928. Serfai No. 281,814,

The present invention refers to a fractionat-' ing apparatus, and refers more particularly to a centrifugal fractionating apparatus parfractions are ofboursathe desired products of the distillation or converslon, while the? insufficiently converted fractions are generally returned for further treatment; v The fractionating device of 'the present invention is characterized by compactness, low cost, and ease of operation. I

The utility of the invention as well as other following description. i

In the drawings, Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view of the centrifugal fractionating apparatus of the present invention, and Fig. 2 is a cross sectional view taken on line 22 of Fig. 1. Referring more in detail to the drawings, vapors evolved from a concurrently operating distilling or cracking process are introduced through the inlet 1 to an enlarged chamber or shell 2. These vapors are deflected by the vapor deflector 3, which also acts as and carries a bearing 4 for one end of a shaft 5. The shaft 5 may be provided with a hub 6 from which project at spaced intervals the radial vanes 7.. The opposite end oft-he shaft 5 is journalled in bearing 8 surrounded by the usual packing 9 and gland nut'10. The arrangement is such that the shaft isadapted to be drivenby any suitable source of power, such, for instance, as a variable speed electric motor, or a constant speed motor with a desirable variable speed reducer, which arrangement enables the apparatus to be revolved at a speed to secure the most desirable results.

In the operation of the device, the vapors being introduced through the inlet 1, pass into and around the vanes 7 of the centrifugal fan whereby there is imparted to said vapors a definite centrifugal action which forces the vapors against the sides of the shell 2, where the heavier and lar er particles of vapors condense into a liquid condensate. The condensate is removed from the shell 2 through the spaced openings or perforations 11 and header 12 draining into the outlet 13. The vapors which are not condensed, pass out of the shell 2 through the vapor outlet 14 where they are condensed in conventional manner.

To secure uniformity in the temperature of the hydrocarbon vapors passing through the outlet 14, I have arranged to introduce a cooling liquid which may comprise a hyd'rocarbon, through the inlet 15, which inlet communicates with a header 16, said cooling liquid passing through the perforations 17 into the interior of the shell. The arrangement is such that the cooling liquid introduced through the iniet 15 to the header 16 is spread out more or less, in the form of a thick film, which film is broken up by the perforations 17, that is, the cooling liquid is not introduced at any particular point, but is spread out more or less uniformly, and introduced simultaneously at different points. While I have shown the particular I arrangement of a header 16 and apertures 17 to accomplish the distribution of the cooling liquid uniformly throughout the upper part of the shell, it is to be understood that I. do not wish to be limited to this particular arrangement, as any structural arrangement which will accomplish the same result, is within the purview of the invention.

' Likewise, the condensate collecting on and flowing down the side walls of the shell 2, passes through a multiplicity of perforations 11 collecting as one liquid body in the header 12, It is also obvious that any arrangement which will accomplish the same result other than the perforations 11 and header 12 may be likewise utilized within the scope of my invention.

The device is capable of operation under superatmospheric pressure, atmospheric pressure, or sub-atmospheric pressure. Suitable valves may be placed on the inlets 1 and '15, and outlets 13 and 14 for this purpose. The device will be found to have particular virtue in the separation of hydrocarbon vapors released from a concurrently operating cracking process.

The temperature of the uncondensed vaors permitted to pass through vapor outlist 14:, will, of course, bevcontrolled by the amount and temperature of the cooling medium introduced through the line 15 relative to the temperature at which the vapors are introduced through inlet 1. The extent of separation may also be controlled by regulating the speed of rotation of the centrifugal fan, the lesser the speed, the lesser the separation is made because of the fact that the velocity of vapors passing through the apparatus is less turbulent relative to the temperature of said vapors.

By the use of the fractionating apparatus of the present invention there will be little or nofoaming action of the condensate and yet, with proper control, the temperatures at which the apparatus is operated can be controlled to reboil the light hydrocarbon vapors out of the condensate, allowing the condensate to pass out practically free of .light hydrocarbon vapors.

I claim as my invention: I 1. A process for dephlegmating a vaporous hydrocarbon mixture of an oil cracking operation for the separation of the same into sufliciently and insufficiently cracked fractions which comprises introducing said mixture to a 'zone of partial condensation, centrifuging the vaporous mixture on an axis parallel to the norm'al direction of flow of the vapors through said zone and thereby forming the vaporous mixture into an annular stream within said zone, cooling the annular stream adequately to condense, said insufiiciently cracked fractions but inadequately to condense said sufliciently cracked fractions, and separately removing the condensed insufficiently cracked fractions and the uncondensed sufficiently cracked fractions from said zone. Y

2. A process for dephlegmating a vaporous hydrocarbon mixture of an oil cracking operation for the separation of the same into sufiic'iently and insufficiently cracked fractions which comprises introducing said mixture to a zone ofpartial condensation,

centrifuging the vaporous mixture on an. axis parallel to the normal direction of flow of the vapors through said zone and thereby forming the :vapor'ous mixture into an annular stream Within said zone, cooling the an-1 nular stream adequately to condense said insufficiently cracked fractions but inadequately to, condense said sufficiently cracked frac tions by introducing a cooling hydrocarbon oil into intimate contacttlierewith, and separately removing the condensed insufficient- 1y cracked fractions and the uncondensed sufiiciently cracked fractions from said zone.

3. A dephlegmator comprising an elongated casing, a vapor inlet at one end of said casing and a vapor outlet at the opposite end thereof whereby vapors introduced to said casing normally flow lengthwise from casing normally flow lengthwise from end to end thereof, a shaft mounted for rotation axially Within said casing, vanes on said shaft and disposed lengthwise of the casing and parallel to the normal direction of flow of vapors from said inlet to said outlet, means for introducing a liquid to the upper portion of said casing, and a liquid outlet in the, lower portion of said casing.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

JACOB BENJAMIN HEID. 

